OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D perception level in the treatment of osteoporosis of Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: This study investigates the perception levels of 400 postmenopausal women aged 50 and over, vitamin D supplement administration, knowledge of vitamin D nutrition, consulting and information of vitamin D and the effect of media exposure during osteoporosis management. A descriptive survey design and a convenience sample of 400 female postmenopausal patients were used. Data were collected with a questionnaire and analysed. RESULTS: Sixty-two% of the patients took supplementary drugs in addition to prescribed main anti-osteoporotic medications. As supplementary drugs, most of them took calcium (57%) and this was twice the number of people taking vitamin D. For those who failed to take the recommended vitamin D or calcium regularly, seventy-eight% of them did not understand that it is important to take regularly. And this survey showed that people do not have enough knowledge on vitamin D compared to calcium. Patients thought that vitamin D is the third most important factor, next to calcium and exercise, for managing healthy and strong bones. Findings indicated that the women displayed a low level of perception and interests in vitamin D and the importance of vitamin D in the management of osteoporosis was assessed at lower than the truth. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that the rates of vitamin D administration of Korean postmenopausal women in the management of osteoporosis is a low level because of a low level of perception of the importance of vitamin D. Therefore the education and the informations about vitamin D are contributable to the treatment of osteoporosis.
Calcium ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis* ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze menstrual problems, as well as various factors that affect the PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and dysmenorrhea on Korean female teenagers. METHODS: We analyzed menstrual problems, PMS, and dysmenorrhea based on the survey answered by 400 high school girls (17~18 years old) from randomly chosen schools in Seoul. Final respondents to a questionnaire were 327 students. RESULTS: The prevalence of PMS was reported by 63.0 % (206 people), and dysmenorrhea by 78.3 % (256 people). PMS was strongly linked to dysmenorrhea (P=0.000). The severity of PMS was correlated with normality of menstrual duration (P=0.034) and familial history (P=0.012). In the case of dysmenorrhea, the presence of dysmenorrhea was significantly high among the group with two years after menarche (P=0.003). Also the severity was positively correlated with normality of menstrual duration (P=0.017) and familial history (P=0.000). PMS and dysmenorrhea have no correlation with body mass index. Although PMS had a correlation with depression (P=0.020), it was not related to dysmenorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: There was a correlation between PMS and dysmenorrhea. For PMS, it had a correlation with menstrual duration, familial history and depression. Dysmenorrhea was highly frequent among the group with two years after menarche. Though it was correlated with normal menstrual duration and familial history, it did not have any correlation with depression.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depression ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Menarche ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of isoflavone intake on estrogen deprivated symptoms in surgically menopaused women. METHODS: Premenopausal women who took total hysterectomy with both adnexectomy were randomized into three groups. One group took conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg daily for 12 weeks after surgery, the second group took isoflavone 100 mg #3 daily for 12 weeks after surgery, and the third group took no medication for controlled group. Questionnaires about the acute menopausal symptoms, incontinence score, blood lipid profile, bone turnover marker were checked before and 12 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: Kupperman's index and insentience score were showed less increased rate than control group. Total cholesterol and triglyceride were increased in all groups and HDL cholesterol was increased in estrogen and isoflavone groups. Osteocalcin was decreased in estrogen and isoflavone groups, ICTP was decreased in estrogen group, and increased in the other groups. CONCLUSION: Isoflavone was effective to acute postmenopusal symptoms, urogenital atrophy and bone turnover.
Atrophy ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Osteocalcin ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate planned pregnancy rate and associated factors related planned pregnancy. METHODS: We surveyed 1,396 cases from May 2002 to December 2002. The cases were derived from the Maternity school. They filled out questionnaire including planned pregnancy, medico-social-economic status. Then, we assessed the planned pregnancy rate with associated medico-social-economic state, through the prospective study. RESULTS: The planned pregnancy rate is 51.4%. The major factor which affected the planned pregnancy rate is the income of the family. The association with the planned pregnancy rate and the parity, age, and educational attainment of the women are not statistically significant. In unplanned group, exposure to alcohol, X-ray and medication is significantly increased in early pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The planned pregnancy can prevent induced abortion and reduce the birth defects due to early exposure to teratogen. Therefore it is important to make an effort to raise the planned pregnancy rate.
Abortion, Induced ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Family Planning Services* ; Female ; Humans ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to describe the experience of delivery training for medical students by using a birth simulator as an educational tool during obstetrical clinical clerkship. METHODS: Study participants were 35 third year medical students of K medical school in Seoul. We have developed birth simulation courses using the robot birth simulator (S555 Noelle(TM). Maternal Neonatal Simulation System. Gaumard scientific, Coral Gables, FL.). During 4 weeks clinical clerkship, clinical teacher gave 90 minutes delivery practice session to students by one-to-one basis with birth simulator. After 4 weeks clinical experience, clinical teacher assessed students' delivery performance using birth simulator. Also students completed self-reported questionnaires to assess satisfaction with the teaching process and their perceptions of the effectiveness of simulation practice. RESULTS: Most students ranked delivery training with birth simulator as an interesting and useful way of understanding labor process and getting skills in obstetrics. And they assessed that they had more confidence to perform a vaginal delivery after the training. CONCLUSION: Simulation training with birth simulator during obstetrical clinical clerkship is an effective way to bridge the gap between the theory and the practice and augment clinical experience.
Anthozoa ; Clinical Clerkship ; Humans ; Obstetrics ; Parturition ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that hysterectomy has a disturbing influence on bowel function, mainly constipation. We performed a prospective study to assess the changes of ano-rectal physiology after hysterectomy. METHODS: Fourteen consecutive patients were assessed before and two months after hysterectomy. A detail questionnaire was devised to allow assessment of bowel function and ano-rectal pressure test and balloon expulsion test were performed before and after hysterectomy. The parameters measured in ano-rectal pressure test included the minimal sensible volume, ano-rectal resting pressure, maximal squeezing pressure, recto-anal inhibitory reflex and balloon expulsion test. Data analysis was carried out by paired t-test. Statistical significance was inferred when the p value was<0.05. RESULTS: Among the fourteen patients, the straining in defecation was found in three patients after operation, other defication habits were not significantly changed after hysterectomy(P>0.05). There were no significant changes in ano-rectal pressure test after hysterectomy. The disturbance of balloon expulsion capacity was increased in four patients after hysterectomy(29%). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that hysterectomy does not cause a decrease in ano-rectal pressure and rectal sensitivity, but has an adverse effect on rectal expulsion capacity in a some of patients.
Constipation ; Defecation ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Physiology ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Reflex ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVE: To compare the age of menarche, changing patterns of the menstrual characteristics in adolescent girls between 1988 and 1998. METHODS: A survey was undertaken for 1,500 highschool girls and compare with those of pervious study for 5,000 middle and highschool girls performed by same author in 1998 by means of questionnaire. RESULTS: During a decade, the mean menarcheal age decreased from 13.5+/-1.0 to 12.7+/-1.0 years(p=0.001). Gynecologic age, Body mass index were associated with age of menarche in both 1988 and 1998. The interval of menstruation was 30.6 3.5dyas in 1998 and shortened compared with 32.1+/-6.3 days in 1988(p=0.001). The duration of menstruation was lengthened in 1998 than in 1988(6.1+/-1.1 days vs 5.8+/-2.2 days, p=0.001). The incidence of irregular cycle(28.2% vs 58.2%, p=0.001), dysmenorrhea(73.9% vs 77.8%, p=0.001), and secondary amenorrhea(16.2% vs 27.2%, p= 0.001) decreased in 1998 compared with those of 1988. The incidence of agonies about menstruation was also decreased in 1998 than in 1988(26.2% vs 69.1%, p=0.001). The most common agony about menstruation in 1988 was irregular cycle(28.4%), but dysmenorrhea( 64.3%) in 1998. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, the mean age of menarche was advanced since last decade but most of the adolescent girls still have suffered from dysmenorrhea.
Adolescent* ; Body Mass Index ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Menarche ; Menstruation ; Surveys and Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sexual function and problems of the Korean women. METHODS: We use BISW-F questionnaire for outpatients visiting department of OBGYn in St, Mary's hospital during 1, March, 2001-30, Jun, 2001. RESULTS: Problems affecting sexual function are elevated in premenopaused women after hysterectomy. Non-hormone replacement therapy group of post menopaused women show increased sexual desire, orgasm and relationship satisfaction opposed to hormone replacement therapy group. CONCLUSION: Premenopaused women think hysterectomy make some problem in their sexual function. Hormone replacement therapy is good to sexual function in post menopaused women.
Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Menopause ; Orgasm ; Outpatients ; Surveys and Questionnaire*

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study was done to find out common symptoms and beneficial physical examinations, and to evaluate relations among symptom, pain severity, physical examination method and width of symphysis pubis of symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation (PGR) in pregnant women. METHODS: Four hundreds sixty-five pregnant women who complained pelvic pain were asked to fill out a questionnaire. Ninety-six pregnant women were diagnosed as PGR and were examined physically and took the sonogram. Statistical correlation was evaluated among symptoms, pain severity (visual analog scale: VAS), physical examination method and sonogram. RESULTS: The most common complain was difficulty of rolling in bed (100%). The most frequent positive diagnostic physical method was posterior pelvic pain provocative test (PPPT) (85.4%). There was correlation between VAS and symptoms (r= 0.340, P=0.001) but no correlations between VAS or symptoms and numbers of positive physical examination (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that PPPT was most beneficial diagnostic methods of PGR in pregnancy.
Female ; Humans ; Pelvic Pain ; Physical Examination* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Relaxation*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the regression rate of the mild cervical dysplasia and to examine the factors associated with the regression. METHODS: One hundred and nine women pathologically confirmed with mild cervical dysplasia were recruited into this study. They were followed up by cytology, colposcopy and human papillomavirus DNA test at 3 months and 6 months after the diagnosis. The participants filled out a questionnaire on their demographic characteristics and sexual history. RESULTS: The rate of spontaneous regression for the mild cervical dysplasia was 59.6%(65/109). Multivariate analysis showed that initial ASCUS cytology, negative HPV status, non-smoker, condom user and age under 40 years old were associated with higher regression rate. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of regression for mild cervical dysplasia seen in our study was particularly higher than the result in previous study. Therefore, we recommend that the patients with mild cervical dysplasia can be followed up by cytology and HPV DNA study without any intervention, especially in young patients. Initial ASCUS cytology, negative HPV status, non-smoker, condom user and age under 40 years old were good related factors for regression.
Adult ; Colposcopy ; Condoms ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Female ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Surveys and Questionnaire